TAMPA -- When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers used their third-round pick in the 2008 draft on Jeremy Zuttah, an offensive lineman out of Rutgers, the choice seemed somewhat curious. Their offensive line was already solid, and the Bucs had needs in other areas. "Our expectations bringing him in here -- like a number of other rookies we've drafted early -- were that he had a chance to compete sooner or later," Bucs offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Bill Muir said Wednesday. "This is probably sooner than any of us anticipated."

Preseason doesn't count, but it matters. That might be the lesson for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who saw some of the same problems that plagued in August follow them into September. On the Bucs first series in their 18-17 loss to the New York Jets Sunday, Tampa Bay used a timeout, followed by back-to-back delay of game penalties, a 10-yard sack and two false starts (the last one declined). "Some of the things that happened in training camp and in practice caught up with us. It kind of opened all of our eyes, really," guard Davin Joseph said.

TAMPA -- Davin Joseph's omnipresent smile was as noticeable as his massive 6-foot-2, 311-pound frame. As Tampa Bay's first round pick in the 2006 draft -- the 23rd overall selection out of Oklahoma -- Joseph was introduced to reporters and corporate hotshots during a news conference Monday at Raymond James Financial headquarters in St. Petersburg. For nearly 40 minutes, while answering questions about his football past and future, the grin never left Joseph's face. Maybe it was the relief that the draft process finally was over.

First to the field Oklahoma: OU's football program took the field in 1895, 12 years before Oklahoma was granted statehood. Florida: UF's first recognized team in 1906 finished 5-3, splitting a pair of games with Rollins College (yes, that Rollins College). The edge: Oklahoma, because it's cool to say the Sooners debuted during the second Grover Cleveland administration. Bowl appearances Oklahoma: The Sooners are 24-16-1 all time, 2-4 in BCS games. Florida: 16-19 all time, 2-1 in BCS. The edge: Oklahoma.

Jeremy Trueblood started the final 20 games of his career at Boston College -- all at left tackle. Come Sunday, the Tampa Bay rookie will make his NFL debut for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3) on the road against the New Orleans Saints (3-1) -- at right tackle. "It's difficult in the sense that your whole body is just like muscle memory,'' Trueblood said of flip-flopping tackle spots. ". . . I never really learned how to pass-block out of a right-hand stance. That was my only major adjustment, which is fine now.'' Trueblood, the team's second-round draft pick, started three preseason games while Kenyatta Walker rested a sore right knee.

SIDELINE ARTIST: Bob Stoops has turned OU back into a national power, but it has been the Sooners' defense -- Stoops' specialty -- that has been exposed in big-game losses. MASTERPIECES: TB Adrian Peterson is great. WR Travis Wilson is underrated nationally. OT Davin Joseph (Hallandale) is one of the nation's best at his position. The d-line is a good one. LB Rufus Alexander is a playmaker. WORKS IN PROGRESS: Who's the QB? Who's the No. 2 WR? There are three new starters on the o-line.

THE GAME: The Ravens and Bucs represent the two premier defenses from their respective conferences over the past decade. Both have Super Bowl trophies to prove it. This game, though, will be about their offenses. Baltimore will debut new QB Steve McNair; it would help his cause if RB Jamal Lewis (sore hip) can play. Regardless, former Bronco Mike Anderson will get some carries for the Ravens. For Tampa Bay, QB Chris Simms enters a season as a starter for the first time since he was in college at Texas.

Chris Simms wore a T-shirt Wednesday, courtesy of the team's equipment staff, that read, "Got Spleen?'' The answer, of course, is no. The Bucs quarterback "Got Sense of Humor,'' though. And "Got Contract,'' too. "I'm really happy with it,'' Simms said. "It's definitely a load off my shoulders. Simms, 26, signed a two-year contract extension with the team Wednesday, the Bucs announced. The deal, the details of which were hammered out last week, reportedly is an incentive-laden pact that will guarantee the fourth-year pro at least $7 million in 2007 in salary bonuses and keep him off the free-agent market this offseason.

Tampa Bay's starting quarterback will be a game-time decision Saturday night when the Buccaneers (2-0) host the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1). It looks like it'll be Jeff Garcia, though. "He practiced a lot and got some good turns, so we're pleased with that," Coach Jon Gruden said after Thursday's practice. "We'll announce who's starting when we get to the stadium." Garcia has yet to take an exhibition-game snap this preseason due to the calf strain he suffered July 31 at training camp.

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took Dexter Jackson, the wide receiver and return specialist from Division I-AA Appalachian State, in the second round of the 2008 draft they did so with visions of a guy who could change games in a flash on special teams. In a perfect world, those visions were of Devin Hester. "Coaches talk about hidden yardage all the time," Jackson said. "That's what the kicking game is about." The Bucs (1-1) face the Chicago Bears (1-1) at Soldier Field Sunday, which means special teams will be a special priority; especially if Hester is in the game.

Tampa Bay Coach Jon Gruden won't say whether QB Brian Griese is on the proverbial "short leash" after throwing twice as many passes to the opponent as touchdown passes. As far as Griese is concerned, he doesn't have to. "I understand that you can't turn the ball over in this business and be successful for an extended period of time," said Griese, who has won three straight games since taking over for Jeff Garcia despite seven turnovers (six interceptions, one fumble) during that span.

On their game-tying touchdown Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers broke the huddle at the Chicago 2-yard line with three tight ends. Alex Smith and John Gilmore were lined up conventionally, but Jerramy Stevens shifted wide where he was matched up against LB Hunter Hillenmeyer. Hillenmeyer goes 6-foot-4, but he was no match for Stevens off the ball. QB Brian Griese got the snap and fired a quick slant to the 6-7 Stevens for the score that tied the game and sent the it into overtime where the Bucs won 27-24.

Just three days after the Tampa Bay offensive line allowed no sacks in a game when Brian Griese threw a team-record 67 passes, the Buccaneers' prospects for protecting the quarterback got even better Wednesday with the return of G Davin Joseph from a foot injury. Joseph, the third-year pro and former first-round pick, broke a bone in his foot in an Aug. 17 exhibition game against New England. He underwent surgery two days later and missed the first three games of the regular season. All signs point to Joseph, who started 28 straight games at right guard dating to his 2006 rookie season, being available Sunday when the Bucs (2-1)

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took Dexter Jackson, the wide receiver and return specialist from Division I-AA Appalachian State, in the second round of the 2008 draft they did so with visions of a guy who could change games in a flash on special teams. In a perfect world, those visions were of Devin Hester. "Coaches talk about hidden yardage all the time," Jackson said. "That's what the kicking game is about." The Bucs (1-1) face the Chicago Bears (1-1) at Soldier Field Sunday, which means special teams will be a special priority; especially if Hester is in the game.

TE Jerramy Stevens, suspended for the first two regular-season games for violating the NFL's behavior code, was activated to the 53-man roster Wednesday. To make room for Stevens, the Buccaneers released TE Ben Troupe, the University of Florida product who signed as a free agent during the offseason. "I definitely feel ready," said Stevens, who per league rules was not allowed to participate in team activities while serving his suspension. "I couldn't be with my teammates, but two weeks isn't that long.

The hamstring injury that sidelined Tampa Bay LB Derrick Brooks was a topic of conversation Wednesday, but the conversations were one-sided. "I'm under strict orders, more of a gag order," Brooks said, declining to speak to his playing status this week. "We'll know on game day whether I'll be ready to go or not. The Bucs (0-1) will face the Atlanta Falcons (1-0) in an early-season NFC South game that already is looking like a must-win. After falling at division foe New Orleans last week, the Bucs can't afford to go two down in the South after two weeks.

Tampa Bay Coach Jon Gruden won't say whether QB Brian Griese is on the proverbial "short leash" after throwing twice as many passes to the opponent as touchdown passes. As far as Griese is concerned, he doesn't have to. "I understand that you can't turn the ball over in this business and be successful for an extended period of time," said Griese, who has won three straight games since taking over for Jeff Garcia despite seven turnovers (six interceptions, one fumble) during that span.

QB Jeff Garcia, the team's MVP following a fiery Pro Bowl 2007 season, is expected to make his exhibition season debut after a calf strain sidelined him for nearly three weeks, including the final two weeks of training camp. The Bucs will be careful with their 38-year-old leader, but they also know he needs some live snaps with his offense to tune up for the regular-season opener at NFC South rival New Orleans in 15 days. For starters . . . With the exception of the offensive line, the bulk of the starters played just 20-30 plays the first two games; some skill-position guys, even less.

QB Jeff Garcia, the team's MVP following a fiery Pro Bowl 2007 season, is expected to make his exhibition season debut after a calf strain sidelined him for nearly three weeks, including the final two weeks of training camp. The Bucs will be careful with their 38-year-old leader, but they also know he needs some live snaps with his offense to tune up for the regular-season opener at NFC South rival New Orleans in 15 days. For starters . . . With the exception of the offensive line, the bulk of the starters played just 20-30 plays the first two games; some skill-position guys, even less.

Tampa Bay's starting quarterback will be a game-time decision Saturday night when the Buccaneers (2-0) host the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1). It looks like it'll be Jeff Garcia, though. "He practiced a lot and got some good turns, so we're pleased with that," Coach Jon Gruden said after Thursday's practice. "We'll announce who's starting when we get to the stadium." Garcia has yet to take an exhibition-game snap this preseason due to the calf strain he suffered July 31 at training camp.